Bangladesh Prime Minister Tariq Rehman said “the Teesta project will be implemented at any cost”
Dhaka: Bangladesh Prime Minister Tariq Rehman on Monday said the “national priority” Teesta Barrage Master Plan will be implemented “at any cost”. Days earlier, Dhaka and Beijing agreed to manage the Teesta and other rivers, most of which come from upstream India, with Beijing stressing that their “cooperation is not directed against any third party.” When Tariq visited China last week, Beijing assured him that it would unswervingly support Tariq “no matter how the world changes.” At a press conference on June 26, when asked about the Teesta River project related to India, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said, “I would like to emphasize that China-Bangladesh cooperation is not targeted at any third party.” “The government is committed to solving the country’s long-standing water management challenges through major investments in rivers, canals and irrigation infrastructure,” Tariq said. Tariq said water remains one of the most pressing issues for the people of Rajshahi and Rangpur districts, which border India’s northeastern regions, and “we are working tirelessly to resolve these issues.” Jia Kun also said at the regular briefing that “the comprehensive management and restoration of the Teesta River is a livelihood project that Bangladesh attaches great importance to.” Tariq said the BNP government has initiated plans to build the Padma barrage as excess water during the monsoon will be stored and used for agriculture during the dry season.
